Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Under Attack

Yesterday was Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember and honor our nation’s war dead. I wrote a little something about Memorial Day in 2008, and rather than repeat myself, you can reference that entry via this link: Memorial Day 2008. All of us should recognize and salute the commitment of every man and woman currently serving in our armed services, and pray that their training will help protect them from the dangers and enemies they face.

Though our servicemen and servicewomen are trained and prepared to live under the constant threat of attack… most of the rest of us are not. Yet Satan is relentless in his campaigns and attacks against us. We are under his attacks from every direction.

Even this blog is under attack. Every week a new comment is posted from an anonymous Asian user; in Japanese. It’s not a comment about the latest post; it is in reality a series of links… links that would take you to a variety of Asian porn sites. Once I recognized the comments for what they really were, it was simple to merely delete them. But it remains under attack, and at least once a week I must delete offensive comments from the blog.

Our bodies are under attack, too: cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, arthritis, and plenty of mystery ailments… to name just a few of the attacks.

Our communities are under attack: terrorism, crumbling infrastructure, corrupt public servants, crime, unemployment, and crushing poverty.

Our world is under constant attack: earthquakes, storms, volcanoes, wars, deprivation, and hunger.

Imagery that attacks our morals, our values, and our sense of right and wrong pours into us from and unending flow being broadcast by television, radio, and the internet. Satan welcomes each new development in communication technology as another weapon to be aimed in our direction… to keep us under constant attack.

Why? What does the father of lies hope to accomplish with these continuous bombardments and attacks? Simple… he seeks to make us dive for cover, jump into a foxhole, build up the sandbags, and in our fear, turn away from God. If you put your faith in this world, if you put your faith in technology, if you put your faith in medical science, or even if you put your faith in your own strength… Satan is winning.

I need to constantly remind myself to take my eyes off Satan, and the works and devices of Satan, and fix my gaze faithfully on Jesus; on Jesus alone!

Jesus overcomes all of Satan’s attacks; not some, not most, but…

JESUS OVERCOMES ALL OF THE ATTACKS!

Jesus heals sickness, Jesus calms the storms, He changes hearts and casts out demons, and He has overcome death. Walking with Jesus, we walk with our Lord, our Savior, our Deliverer, and our Protector. When we invite Jesus into our heart, we never have to walk alone again. Though we still may walk in this calamitous and dangerous world, in Jesus we are no longer of it. Instead, we become more than conquerors, we become children of God and inheritors of God’s heavenly kingdom.

With my eyes off Satan and my eyes only on Jesus, Satan’s false illusions are little more than smoke and mirrors. Instead of a world of horrors, I see God’s people pouring out love, compassion, aid, and healing… into a broken world. I see a beautiful creation in endless variety and infinite complexity that gives glory to God the Creator. I see Jesus… who suffered for my sake, took my sins and shortcomings and covered them with His blood, and by His resurrection guarantees me eternal salvation. In the company of Jesus, I’m not pinned down under withering attacks, but I am free… I’m free, indeed!

Since we do live in this world, the attacks don’t stop. But in the company of Jesus, the attacks now have all the weight of a feather; as easily dealt with as deleting an inappropriate blog comment. The best thing about walking in faith with Jesus by your side is being able to step up to the battle front, pick up the wounded, and show them how Jesus can heal them, save them, and free them. In the company of Jesus we can do all things. Fear not!

Where are you under attack? Who leads you? I pray it’s Jesus!

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

2 comments:

  1. I think I am under attack the most at home... where i'm most vunerable. Because everything is comfortable, I become open to Satan's attack... BUT as you say

    THANK GOD FOR JESUS!!!! THANK GOD FOR GOD!!!!

    I think that's what makes the Gospel and everything about Christianity so amazing! so wonderful.... underneath the fact that a glorious Creator would even consider us & only encourage us, love us and guide us in how to follow Him.

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  2. Excellent thoughts, in my opinion! I cannot help but think about the greatest "memorial day". It happens every first day of the week. It happens because He uttered the words, "This do in remembrance of me." It seems if we commemorate His death as he instructed, we might have an easier time following the path of the cross. Keeping important events and people in memory helps us to focus and be thankful. I am certainly thankful for a country that promotes such freedom and democracy, but I am that much more grateful for a Savior who died to make me free from sin!

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